Conditioning unit with modular construction

ABSTRACT

A high velocity air handling assembly, as for conditioning the air in industrial plants which permits entry by service personnel within the assembly, has modular structural units which include a planar horizontally disposed steel plate portion, longitudinally disposed steel plate flanges integral with the horizontally disposed portion, and transverse braces supporting the flanges so that the horizontal portion serves as a floor for supporting components and service personnel, as well as a structural member together with the flanges.

[ June 25, 1974 United States Patent [191 Carter, Sr.

[ CONDITIONING UNIT WITH MODULAR 3,256,652 6/1966 Van Der Lely 3,392,655 7/1968 Chambers...... 3,461,633 8/1969 Ziegelman 3,477,668 11/1969 Tippmann...... 3,484,999 12/1969 Van Der Lely 3,493,201 2/1970 Marran.......... Primary Examiner-Henry C. Sutherland Assistant Examiner-H. E. Raduazo Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bailey & Dority [57] ABSTRACT A high velocity air handling assembly, as for conditioning the air in industrial plants which permits entry by service personnel within the assembly, has modular structural units which include a planar horizontally disposed steel plate portion, longitudinally disposed steel plate flanges integral with the horizontally disposed portion, and transverse braces supporting the flanges so that the horizontal portion serves as a floor for supporting components and service personnel, as well as a structural member together with the flanges.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 52/79, 108/51, 98/29 Int. E04b U348 52/79, 236; 108/51; 248/19, 23; 211/183; 98/29 NTS CONSTRUCTION [75] Inventor: William E. Carter, Sr., Piedmont,

[73] Assignee: Thermo-Kinetics, Inc., Greenville,

[22] Filed: Aug. 21, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 282,346

[52] U.S. [58] Field of Search [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATE 1,156,693 10/1915 Koger.................. 2,481,233 9/1949 Morset.......... 2,572,780 10/1951 Takenberg.... 2,760,238 8/1956 Lane 3,157,427 ll/1964 Reynolds 3 229 431 l/l966 Paul PATENTEU M25 1374 SHEEI 1M2 l l l I l I L PAIENIED JUN 2 5 i914 SHEET 2 OF 2 CONDITIONING UNIT WITH MODULAR CONSTRUCTION Air handling units as for industrial plants are presently constructed according to a special design dictated by the particular components called for to accomplish desired results which vary from job to job. Such components are selected from various air handling equipment such as washers, coils, filters, dampers, fans, refrigeration equipment, cooling towers and condensors, all available in a variety of sizes and configurations. Structural units are designed and assembled in lengths as called for by a particular design to satisfy structural requirements, and the floor is then built up thereon. The. floor is usually an insulated panel wherein, polyurethane foam is sandwiched between sheet metal. Such construction is illustrated in US. Pat. No. 3,392,655.

After the floor is built up on the structural members the panels comprising the housing must be attached. This necessitates the use of an angle which is attached by ram studs to the floor panel. The panels are then pop riveted on the inside of the housing to the vertical leg of the angle, and flashing is then pop riveted across the juncture of the housing and the floor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has been found that the construction of such air handling units may be greatly simplified through the use of modular prefabricated units which may be selected as called for in a particular air handling unit. The modular units are constructed using a steel plate whose edges are broken at right angles as in a press brake forming longitudinal flange which are provided with transverse supports. When such modular units are selectively connected the horizontally disposed steel plate portions carrying vertical flanges serve as a floor for supporting service personnel, as well as a structural member for carrying the required components for a particular air handling assembly and for supporting the entire air handling assembly.

By prefabricating a number of modular units of various lengths, as for example, from about 2 to 8 feet in length, a selection of such modular units may be connected to suit the type and configuration of components required for a given assembly.

The horizontally disposed steel plate provides a rigid more durable surface for service personnel to walk on avoiding the use of the more flexible and delicate polyurethane panels. The horizontal steel plate serves as a floor, as well as the structural support for the member, rather than building up the floor on specially designed structural members.

The angle and ram studs used for attaching same to the floor to support the housing are eliminated. The use of inside pop rivets to attach the housing panels to the angle is also eliminated. Flashing now serves the dual function of attaching the panels to the floor, as well as its usual purpose.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

I BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation illustrating an air handling assembly constructed in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view looking toward the lower right-hand corner of the assembly in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the base plate in inverted position,

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 4-4 in FIG. 1 illustrating a preferred mode of attachment for the housing, as well as transverse bracing for the flanges,

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 5-5 in FIG. 1 illustrating a washer section construction incorporating the invention,

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 6-6 in FIG. 2 further illustrating transverse bracing for the flanges, and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevation illustrating a connection between major assemblies of the modular units.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The drawings illustrate a high velocity air handling assembly as for conditioning the air in industrial plants which permits entry by service personnel within the assembly. A modular structural unit is provided for carrying components such as washer, coils, filter, dampers, fan, refrigeration equipment, cooling tower, condensor and the like, within an insulated housing. The housing covers a selection of such components carried by a plurality of such modular units structurally connected in longitudinal alignment. A modular structural unit includes a planar horizontally disposed steel plate portion A. longitudinally disposed steel plate flanges B are integral with said planar horizontally disposed steel plate portion. A flange extends substantially vertically from each opposed longitudinal edge of the planar portion. The transverse braces C support the flanges. Thus, the planar horizontally disposed steel plate portion serves as a floor for supporting components and service personnel, as well as a structural member, together with the flanges and with a plurality of such modular units, which are selectively connected for carrying the required components for a particular air handling assembly, for supporting the air handling assembly. Insulating material D is applied across the underside of the horizontally disposed steel plate portion. The transverse braces C may include a horizontal longitudinal steel plate flange extending transversely from each free longitudinal edge of the first mentioned flanges integrally therewith, braces extending between such first mentioned flanges and transverse reinforcing gussets.

The planar horizontal steel plate portions A are preferably constructed from A inch steel plate, as are the flanges B. Transverse braces C include a horizontal longitudinal flange described in greater detail below. FIG. 1 illustrates an assembly, wherein a number of modular structural units are used to support air handling components in the form of a fan 10, a heat transfer device which may be in the form of a sprayer or washer section, coils, etc., a filter and a damper. The housing is provided with a door 11 to provide access thereto for service personnel. The various modular units are structurally connected in longitudinal alignment either all in end to end relation as illustrated, or in unit assembly sections at one or more angles to each other as required at-the sight. Each section may include one or more aligned modular units.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view looking upwardly toward the lower right-hand end of FIG. 1 illustrating the modular units carrying the housing which includes side portions 12 and end portions 13. It will be observed that gusset splice plates 14 are provided to connect major component sections which are butted together as illustrated at 15. It will also be observed in FIG. 1 that suitable insulation, such as polyurethane D, may be sprayed across the underside of the entire unit, and that end braces 16 which extends the full depth of the flanges B, are secured as by welding at the ends of the assembly. The layer of polyurethane D should preferably be about 2 inches thick.

FIG. 3 illustrates a typical modular structural unit constructed in accordance with the present invention wherein it will be observed that the steel plate may be broken at approximately 90 in a press brake to form the flanges B and braces C, which are carried by the planar horizontal sheet metal portion A. The unit is inverted to illustrate transverse braces C for supporting the flanges B. The braces C may include a transverse flange l7, integral with the flanges B preferably extending inwardly from the free edges thereof. The braces C may also include spaced reinforcing gusset plates 18, as well as transverse braces extending between the flanges B in the form of channels 19. If desired, a longitudinal stringer 20 may extend the entire length of the assembly to provide additional support therefor.

FIG. 4 illustrates attachment of flashing in the form of a sheet 21 to the flange B as by welding at 22. The longitudinal flashing 21 extends above the floor formed by the planar horizontally disposed steel plate portion A and serves to fasten the side walls 12 of the housing thereto as by pop rivets 23. It will be observed that the side walls 12 are preferably constructed of insulated members, wherein polyurethane insulation 12a is sandwiched between sheet metal portions 12b. The reinforcing gussets 18 are secured as by welding at 24 to support the flanges B, together with the flanges 17.

FIG. shows a pan 25 as carried beneath the spray pipes of a sprayer section wherein the pop rivets 26 connect the pan to the housing and together with the pop rivets 27 secure the flashing 28 to avoid leakage around the sides of the pan 25. The reinforcing plates, as illustrated at 29 may be provided to supplement the welded connection between modular units. If desired, the entire modular unit may be used in inverted position as in FIG. 3, with the pan placed inside (not shown). It should be noted than an air intake opening (not shown) may be placed on the left-hand side of the fan in FIG. 1, and an air outlet, dampers and drainage openings (not shown) provided as desired in a customary manner.

FIG. 6 illustrates the positioning of the additional transverse bracing in the form of transverse channel members 19 which are welded as at 30 to support the flanges B with respect to the planar horizontally disposed steel plate portion A. FIG. 7 further illustrates the splice plate connection which is welded as at 31 on one of the major units, and is secured by rivets 32 to the other.

It is thus seen that the modular units combine the floor deck and vertical structural member from one sheet of steel plate. The modular units are continuous welded and watertight, and carry the spans and loading with minimum deflection. The base sections after assembly are readily cleaned, primed and insulated on the bottom with sprayed urethane foam.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly for conditioning the air in industrial plants and the like which permits entry by service personnel within the assembly comprising, a plurality of modular structural units for carrying components including washer, coils, filter, dampers, fan, refrigeration equipment, cooling tower, condensor and the like, a housing, said housing covering a selection of such components carried by such modular units each modular unit comprising, a planar horizontally disposed steel plate portion, vertical longitudinally disposed steel plate flanges integral with said planar horizontally disposed portion, one of said flanges extending substantially vertically downwardly from each opposed longitudinal edge of said steel plate portion, a horizontal longitudinally disposed flange integral with a free edge of each of said vertical flanges, transverse braces supporting said flanges, including a plurality of spaced gusset means supporting said vertical and horizontal flanges and transverse means supporting said vertical flanges with respect to said planar horizontally disposed portion, means connecting a plurality of modular units in aligned relation, continuous side walls forming said housing, said walls bearing upon said horizontal steel plate portion, and a marginal structural member fixed to said plate and extending thereabove joining said walls and said horizontal steel plate portion, whereby said planar horizontally disposed steel plate portion serves as a floor for supporting components and service personnel as well as a structural member together with said flanges and with a plurality of such modular units, which are selectively connected for carrying the required components for a particular air handling assembly, for supporting the air handling assembly.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 including, insulating material carried across the underside of said horizontally disposed steel plate portion.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said transverse means includes braces extending between and connecting said first mentioned flanges. 

1. An assembly for conditioning the air In industrial plants and the like which permits entry by service personnel within the assembly comprising, a plurality of modular structural units for carrying components including washer, coils, filter, dampers, fan, refrigeration equipment, cooling tower, condensor and the like, a housing, said housing covering a selection of such components carried by such modular units each modular unit comprising, a planar horizontally disposed steel plate portion, vertical longitudinally disposed steel plate flanges integral with said planar horizontally disposed portion, one of said flanges extending substantially vertically downwardly from each opposed longitudinal edge of said steel plate portion, a horizontal longitudinally disposed flange integral with a free edge of each of said vertical flanges, transverse braces supporting said flanges, including a plurality of spaced gusset means supporting said vertical and horizontal flanges and transverse means supporting said vertical flanges with respect to said planar horizontally disposed portion, means connecting a plurality of modular units in aligned relation, continuous side walls forming said housing, said walls bearing upon said horizontal steel plate portion, and a marginal structural member fixed to said plate and extending thereabove joining said walls and said horizontal steel plate portion, whereby said planar horizontally disposed steel plate portion serves as a floor for supporting components and service personnel as well as a structural member together with said flanges and with a plurality of such modular units, which are selectively connected for carrying the required components for a particular air handling assembly, for supporting the air handling assembly.
 2. The structure set forth in claim 1 including, insulating material carried across the underside of said horizontally disposed steel plate portion.
 3. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said transverse means includes braces extending between and connecting said first mentioned flanges. 